Mates, Dates and Cosmic Kisses Read online

  Chapter 14

  Girl Power

  Mum dropped me off at the disco at about eight thirty the following night and already the place was buzzing with a party atmosphere. People were up and dancing, Robbie Williams was blaring out through large speakers on either side of the hall, and Mrs Allen and Mr Johnson, wearing daft Santa hats, were standing by the drinks table. Probably on the look-out for boys adding vodka like they did last year. Half the school was out of their skulls by midnight and the other half sick all over the place. It was a riot when parents arrived to pick people up, with the teachers getting the tellings off for a change.

  I had a quick glance round the hall before taking my coat to the cloakroom. The place was unrecognisable as the usual hall where we had assembly. The Christmas tree had been moved up on to the stage where equipment had been set up for the band, and fairy lights were strung all along the walls.

  I put my coat away then went into a cubicle to change. I’d been over to see Dad and Anna this morning and was having a moan about having nothing to wear for the disco.

  ‘Well, I was going to give you this for Christmas, but if you really want, you could have it now,’ said Dad. ‘Probably best you pick something you want yourself.’

  Then he handed me a fifty-pound note.

  I gave him a huge hug then dashed out to Primrose Hill. The black velvet dress I’d seen weeks ago was still in the window and had been reduced in a Christmas sale. It fitted perfectly, really tight and made me look tall and slim. I was a bit worried Mum wouldn’t let me wear it tonight as it’s backless and a bit low at the front, but she agreed on condition I wore a little top underneath. Which of course I did.

  In the cubicle, I took off the little top and put it in my bag, then I put on a black choker I’d borrowed from Mum’s jewellery box. I went and checked my appearance in the mirror and applied a bit of red lippie then made my way into the main hall and soon found Nesta.

  ‘This place is poser’s heaven,’ I said, looking at all our class swanning about in their posh party frocks.

  ‘I know,’ said Nesta. ‘Great, isn’t it? Hey, you look gorgeous. Great dress. Really sophisticated.’

  ‘Thanks,’ I said. ‘So do you.’

  Nesta looked beautiful in her sparkly silver dress and her hair like black silk right down to her waist. She’d soon get off with someone and Lucy, of course, would be with Tony. I hoped I wasn’t going to be the only one on my own.

  ‘Have you seen Jade Wilcocks?’ said Nesta. ‘She’s got a ton of make-up on. I saw her just now in the corridor, all over some boy.’

  ‘She’s not the only one. On the way from the cloakroom, I saw half a dozen couples having snogathons.’

  ‘It’s going to be a good party,’ grinned Nesta. ‘What time’s the band on?’

  ‘Soon I think,’ I said, looking at my watch. ‘Where’s Lucy?’

  ‘Putting some silver glitter through her hair in the cloakroom,’ she said. ‘She looks amazing. And you know she’s dumped Tony?’

  ‘You’re kidding. When?’

  ‘This morning after you’d gone.’

  ‘Is she OK?’

  ‘Yeah,’ said Nesta. ‘She’s fine. Great. It’s hysterical. It’s Tony who’s not. He couldn’t believe it even though she did it really nicely. She spent ages talking to him. But he’s never been dumped before. He’s always been the dumper. He’s gone into shock, I think. He was lolling about all morning, saying Lucy was special, not like other girls. He’s phoned her about ten times today.’

  ‘Hiya,’ said Lucy, coming to join us.

  ‘Wow,’ I said. ‘You look fab. Like a Christmas fairy.’

  Lucy had a short white hipster skirt on with a thin diamante belt round her waist and a short white top with tiny bootlace straps that criss-crossed round her back.

  ‘Did you make the top?’ I asked.

  Lucy nodded. ‘Like it? I made it last week. I read in a mag that if you show off your back no one will notice you haven’t got any boobs.’

  I laughed. Having a flat chest was Lucy’s big hang-up but she needn’t worry. She looked fantastic.

  ‘It looks great,’ said Nesta.

  ‘But tell me about Tony,’ I said. ‘What happened?’

  Lucy grinned. ‘It didn’t feel right any more.’

  I couldn’t believe it. She was being so cool.

  ‘But you really liked him!’

  ‘I know, but after last night, I realised you were right. I was getting more and more miserable trying to be and do what he wanted. I want it to feel really special and I’m just not sure of him yet. Anyway, it should be us girls that call the shots. And I decided I just wasn’t ready.’ She looked anxiously at Nesta, but she was busy giving some boy the eye. ‘After last night, I thought I don’t want to be poor little Lucy. Dumped because she’s too young. I decided to turn the tables.’

  ‘Good for you, Luce,’ I said. ‘I think you’re really brave. And looking like this, you’ll get off with someone else really easily.’

  Just at that moment, the lights went down and a hush fell over the hall. I looked up at the stage and saw a boy go over to the main mike and pick up a guitar.

  He looked familiar. Oh no. It was Ben. Oh no, I thought, he’s going to play more of his appalling songs from the shows. He’ll look a right prat in front of this lot. He must be the warm-up act to King Noz. I wondered what idiot booked him.

  At that moment, he looked down and caught my eye and gave me a wave. I waved back nervously. Oh dear. Now everyone would know that I know him and it’s going to be so embarrassing when he starts playing.

  ‘And now,’ said the DJ. ‘Let’s hear a big round of applause for King Noz.’

  What? I thought. It can’t be.

  Three other boys walked out on the stage to join Ben and took their places, one at the keyboards, and the other two on guitar. Then they started playing and Ben started singing. He was amazing. They were amazing. Totally amazing. Everyone went mad, clapping and cheering then manic dancing in time to the music.

  My jaw must have dropped open because Lucy turned to me.

  ‘What’s the matter, Iz?’

  ‘I know him,’ I stuttered. ‘That’s Ben up there.’

  ‘I know. He comes to Dad for lessons. He’s brilliant, isn’t he?’

  ‘But he’s the guy from the wedding . . .’ I said. I couldn’t get my head round it. The same Ben that had looked so awkward playing at the wedding was now up on stage giving it all he’d got and looking mucho cute. Everyone was up on their feet, dancing away. The audience loved them.

  After a couple of fast numbers, Ben took the mike. ‘And now we’re going to slow it down a bit,’ he said. He swapped places with the keyboard player and they began to play again.

  Girls paired off with boys to slow dance as Ben sang a lovely ballad. He was really good. A strong clear voice. I couldn’t believe I’d been such a nerd. I should have realised. But how was I to know that he was King Noz?

  As the band upped the pace again Nesta disappeared into the throng with some boy who’d asked her to dance. I watched her doing the routine she’d shown me the night before. Everyone was watching her but some of the girls didn’t seem too happy about the way their boyfriends were ogling.

  Lucy put her hand on my arm. ‘Don’t look now. Mark’s just arrived.’

  I quickly turned away but too late, he’d seen me and was walking towards me, smiling.

  ‘Izzie,’ he said, putting his arm round me. ‘You look fantastic. I was hoping you’d be here. Wanna dance?’

  I couldn’t believe his cheek. Hoping I’d be there. Why didn’t he phone and make sure?

  ‘No thanks,’ I said. ‘I want to listen to the band.’

  He looked taken aback. Actually I did want to listen to the band but I also wasn’t going to fall into his arms the minute he arrived.

  ‘Maybe later,’ I said.

  ‘Oh, OK,’ he said. ‘I’ll go and get a drink, then. Want anything?’

 
‘No thanks,’ I said, turning back to the stage as he walked off looking puzzled.

  ‘Good for you, Iz,’ said Lucy.

  I took a deep breath. I wasn’t feeling as confident as I may have looked. Mark was still cute but I had made a promise to myself that I wasn’t going to be such a pushover in future.

  ‘Anyway, I think Ben likes you,’ said Lucy, pointing at the stage.

  I turned to look at him and sure enough, he was looking at me as he sang the words of a song.

  ‘Do you think?’

  ‘I do,’ said Lucy. ‘He’s really nice, you know. I’ve talked to him when he’s been waiting for lessons at home sometimes. He thinks about stuff like you do. I reckon you’d get on.’

  I spent the next half-hour standing by the wall, listening to the set King Noz played.

  ‘There’s a secret there for learning,’ Ben sang.

  ‘A journey to be taken in my search for truth. Krishna, Buddha, Gandhi, Christ, all bid me follow but which road offers proof? While I seek the smiles of angels, darkness calls my soul, Jesus help me fight the fight, Buddha lead me to the light.’

  Then he went into a rap chorus, ‘Omnipresent, omniwhere? I look for God but is he there? Heaven, hell, a state of mind. The way is lost for our mankind.’

  As I listened to the lyrics I thought, Lucy’s right, I would get on with Ben. He seems to be asking all the same questions as me. Even if we didn’t get off with each other, we obviously had a lot we could talk about. I’d never even given him a second glance. Not considered him for a moment. But watching him up there playing, I had to admit I was impressed. Very impressed.

  When the band had finished playing, the DJ started up the disco again and I could see Ben heading towards me.

  ‘You were fantastic,’ I said. ‘Really brilliant.’

  He looked pleased. ‘Thanks. Bit of a change from songs from the shows.’

  ‘A bit,’ I smiled, thinking he had really nice blue eyes with thick black lashes behind his little round glasses.

  ‘My brother made me get up at that wedding. I felt a right prat. But it was his wedding and that’s what he wanted.’

  ‘Right,’ I said, not wanting to admit that I’d put him in a box and labelled it naff.

  ‘Have you been playing long?’ I asked.

  ‘About four years. Lot to learn still, that’s why I’m taking lessons. In fact, there was something I wanted to ask you about.’

  Suddenly he looked embarrassed.

  ‘What?’ I asked.

  ‘Well, I know I shouldn’t have looked and I know I should have asked . . .’

  ‘What are you on about?’ I asked.

  ‘Well, you know that day I saw you at Lucy’s house? When I was there for my lesson?’

  ‘Yeah?’

  ‘Well, after the lesson Mr Lovering went off to find some CDs for me and I was just sat there waiting . . .’

  ‘And?’

  ‘And I saw this book on the piano. It had your name on it.’

  ‘Oh no,’ I said. ‘Oh no. You didn’t look, did you?’

  He nodded, ‘I did. I didn’t mean to . . .’

  ‘I never show anybody my lyrics, not anybody.’ I felt awful. He’d laugh at me just as I’ve decided I like him. And his songs are so good, he must think mine are awful.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ he continued. ‘As I said, I didn’t mean to look, not for long, but I really liked what I read. Did you write all those songs yourself?’

  I nodded.

  ‘They’re really good, Izzie. In fact, I wanted to ask you . . . Have you put any of them to music yet?’

  I shook my head.

  ‘Well, what do you think about us getting together sometime and working on them?’

  ‘Honestly?’ I asked. I couldn’t think of anything I’d like better.

  We spent the next half-hour talking about bands we liked and who we didn’t, when we were interrupted by Mark.

  ‘Dance?’ he said, giving Ben a filthy look.

  I was feeling so pleased with the way everything was turning out, I accepted. As I danced with Mark I could see Ben watching me.

  Mmm, I thought. Could be interesting.

  ‘So,’ said Mark. ‘Want to go out next week?’

  I shrugged. ‘Maybe. I don’t know what I’m doing yet.’

  Again, he looked totally taken aback. ‘Oh well, phone me when you do,’ he said.

  ‘Yeah,’ I said, enjoying the effect I was having on him.

  He leaned close to me and whispered, ‘Because I really like you, Izzie.’

  ‘Yeah,’ I said. ‘Whatever.’

  He looked completely bemused. It was hysterical.

  ‘Anyway, maybe catch you later,’ I said. ‘Got to go. I came with my friends. Got to find them.’

  I left him standing in the middle of the dance floor with his mouth hanging open. That’ll teach you, I thought. You could have come with me, if you’d bothered to phone.

  The rest of the disco was brilliant. Nesta, in her usual style of fancying older boys, got off with some Sixth Former and was last seen in the canteen snogging for Britain.

  Then Tony turned up.

  ‘I have to speak to you,’ he said urgently. ‘About Lucy.’

  ‘What about Lucy?’ I asked, doing my best innocent face.

  ‘Tell me what to do. You’re one of her best mates. How can I get her back?’

  ‘What does Nesta say?’

  Tony laughed. ‘Nesta? Nesta’s told me from the beginning to keep away from Lucy. But I don’t want to. I really like her.’

  ‘She’s over there,’ I said, pointing out Lucy to him. She was slow dancing with a good-looking boy who looked really keen.

  Tony’s face dropped. ‘I’ve blown it, haven’t I?’

  ‘Maybe,’ I said. ‘Maybe not. You never know until you’ve tried.’

  What an evening, I thought, as Tony went on to the dance floor to cut in on Lucy. Boys. Strange species. Don’t want you when you want them and do want you when you’re not interested. But I’m learning. Fast.

  As the party started to wind down, I went to go and get my coat and Ben caught up with me.

  ‘Izzie,’ he said. ‘Can I phone you? You know, about getting together to do some songs?’

  I was about to give him my number when I stopped and laughed.

  ‘What’s so funny?’ asked Ben.

  ‘Nothing,’ I said, getting out my pen. ‘I’d love to do some songs with you. But you give me your number. I’ll call you.’